Honoring America Through 78rpm Records
This curated collection from the Recorded Sound Archives highlights the powerful role of music and spoken word in uniting a nation during times of war, struggle, and hope. Pressed onto fragile 78rpm shellac discs, these recordings capture a rich spectrum of American patriotism—from stirring anthems and heartfelt ballads to morale-boosting swing tunes and historic radio broadcasts.
Featuring legendary voices like Kate Smith, Paul Robeson, Glenn Miller, The Andrews Sisters, and Frank Sinatra, as well as iconic speeches by FDR and Winston Churchill, these selections reflect how sound helped shape the American experience in the 20th century.
Whether meant to rally troops, comfort families, or inspire pride, these vintage recordings offer more than nostalgia—they are sonic artifacts that echo the resilience, unity, and ideals of generations past.
Explore the collection and rediscover the voices that helped define America’s spirit—one shellac disc at a time.
Foundational Patriotic Voices (WWI & WWII Era)
| Kate Smith | ||
| God Bless America | ||
| The Star-Spangled Banner | ||
| George M. Cohan | ||
| Over There | ||
| You’re a Grand Old Flag | ||
| The Yankee Doodle Boy | ||
| Irving Berlin (songwriter) | ||
| This Is the Army, Mr. Jones | ||
| Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor | ||
Voice of the People & Social Unity
| Paul Robeson | ||
| Ballad for Americans | ||
| Joe Hill | ||
Big Band Patriotic Spirit
| Glenn Miller and His Orchestra | ||
| American Patrol | ||
| In the Mood | Popular troop favorite | |
| St. Louis Blues March | Army Air Force Band version | |
| Tommy Dorsey | ||
| Boogie Woogie | ||
| I’ll Never Smile Again | ||
| Benny Goodman | ||
| Let’s Dance | ||
| Sing, Sing, Sing | ||
| Bugle Call Rag | ||
Popular Vocalists & Balladeers
| Frank Sinatra | ||
| The House I Live In | ||
| America the Beautiful | ||
| Bing Crosby | ||
| White Christmas | meaningful for WWII troops overseas | |
| The Star-Spangled Banner | ||
Wartime Spirit & Dance Hall Boosters
| The Andrews Sisters | ||
| Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy | ||
| Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree | ||
| Rum and Coca-Cola | ||
| Dinah Shore | ||
| Buttons and Bows | ||
Spoken Word, Marches & Military Bands
| United States Military Bands (Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force) | ||
| Anchors Aweigh | ||
| The Caissons Go Rolling Along | ||
| The Marines’ Hymn | ||
| Stars and Stripes Forever | ||
| Washington Post March | ||
Wartime Radio & Public Addresses
Public addresses and speeches were often released on 78rpm records during the war for morale.
Additional Artists Worth Exploring...
| John Charles Thomas | ||
| Home on the Range | A nostalgic American folk tune that evokes national pride. | |
| The Lord's Prayer | While religious, it was often associated with comfort and unity during wartime. | |
| Lawrence Tibbett | ||
| My Own United States | ||
| Battle Hym of the Republic | ||
Please note, due to copyright some items may only be available as a 45 second snippet.
If you are a researcher or educator in need of full access to these recordings and additional materials (PDF, front/back covers, and record label scans), you can apply for Research Station Access
FAU Students, Faculty and Staff can listen to recordings and access additional materials unrestricted by clicking the Research Station icon located in the upper right corner of the website logging in using their FAU NET ID and password.